1, 2. (a) Yini Jehova latsi itawenteka esikhatsini setfu? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitayiphendvula kulesihloko? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

JEHOVA watsi esikhatsini setfu “emadvodza lalishumi lasuka kuto tonkhe tilwimi netive ayawunkonkoshela umJuda munye ngemphetfo wesembatfo sakhe, atsi: ‘Asihambisane nani, ngobe sivile kutsi Nkulunkulu unani.’” (Zakhariya 8:23) “UmJuda” umelela labo Nkulunkulu labagcobe ngemoya longcwele. Baphindze babitwe nangekutsi ‘ngu-Israyeli waNkulunkulu.’ (Galathiya 6:16) “Emadvodza lalishumi” amelela labo labanelitsemba lekuphila phakadze emhlabeni. Bayati kutsi Jehova ubusise lelicembu lalabagcotjiwe futsi bakutsatsa njengelilungelo kumkhonta kanye nalo.

² Njengemphrofethi Zakhariya, Jesu washo kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu batawuba nebunye. Wachaza labo labanelitsemba lekuphila ezulwini ngekutsi ‘ngumhlambi lomncane,’ watsi labo labanelitsemba lekuphila emhlabeni ‘banguletinye timvu.’ Kodvwa Jesu washo kutsi bonkhe batawuba “ngumhlambi munye” futsi balandzele ‘umelusi munye.’ (Lukha 12:32; Johane 10:16) Njengobe amabili lamacembu,  labanye bangase batibute: (1) Letinye timvu kufanele tati libito ngalinye yini lalabagcotjiwe? (2) Nguyiphi indlela yekucabanga labagcotjiwe lokufanele babe nayo? (3) Kufanele ngimphatse njani umuntfu ebandleni lengikulo nangabe acala kudla sinkhwa futsi anatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto? (4) Kufanele ngikhatsateke yini nangilibona likhula linani lebantfu labadla sinkhwa futsi banatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto? Lesihloko sitayiphendvula lemibuto.

3. Kungani kungasimelula ngatsi kwati kutsi bobani labatawuba yincenye yalabangu-144 000?

³ Letinye timvu kufanele tati libito ngalinye lalabagcotjiwe labasesemhlabeni yini lamuhla? Cha. Kungani? Kungobe angeke kwenteke umuntfu aciniseke kutsi logcotjiwe utawutfola yini umvuzo wakhe nome cha. ^[1] (Fundza kwatiswa lokusekugcineni.) Nanobe Nkulunkulu ababitele kutsi bayophila ezulwini, kodvwa batawutfola umvuzo wabo kuphela nangabe bahlala betsembekile. Sathane uyakwati loko futsi usebentisa ‘baphrofethi bemanga’ kute ‘abadukise.’ (Matewu 24:24) EmaKhristu lagcotjiwe angeke aciniseke kutsi atawutfola umvuzo wawo kuze kube ngulapho Jehova akwenta kucace kutsi uwatfole etsembekile. NguJehova lowabeka luphawu lwekugcina, kungaba ngulesikhatsi afa nobe ngaphambi ‘kwekuhlupheka lokukhulu.’​—Sembulo 2:10; 7:3, 14.

4. ‘Singahambisana’ njani nalabagcotjiwe labasesemhlabeni lamuhla nangabe singawati emabito abo?

⁴ Nangabe letinye timvu tingeke tiwati emabito abo bonkhe labagcotjiwe labasesemhlabeni lamuhla, pho ‘tingahambisana’ njani nabo? LiBhayibheli litsi “emadvodza lalishumi” “ayawunkonkoshela umJuda munye ngemphetfo wesembatfo sakhe, atsi: ‘Asihambisane nani, ngobe sivile kutsi Nkulunkulu unani.’” Lelivesi leliBhayibheli likhuluma ngemJuda munye, kodvwa alikhulumi ngemuntfu munye nalitsi “nani” nalapho litsi “unani.” Loko kusho kutsi umJuda akasuye umuntfu munye kodvwa umelela licembu lalabagcotjiwe. Letinye timvu tiyakwati loko, futsi tikhonta Jehova tikanye nalelicembu. Atidzingi kulandzela nekwati libito lelilunga ngalinye lalelicembu. NguJesu uMholi wetfu, futsi liBhayibheli lisitjela kutsi silandzele yena kuphela.​—Matewu 23:10.

5. Ngusiphi secwayiso labagcotjiwe lokufanele bacabangisise ngaso, futsi kungani?

⁵ Labagcotjiwe kufanele bacabangisise ngeseluleko lesiku-1 Khorinte 11:27-29. (Fundza.) Umuntfu logcotjiwe angasidla njani sinkhwa futsi anatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto abe ‘angafaneleki’? Nangabe ete buhlobo lobuhle naJehova futsi angaketsembeki kuye, loyo muntfu usuke angahloniphi  nakadla sinkhwa futsi anatsa liwayini. (Hebheru 6:4-6; 10:26-29) Lesecwayiso sikhumbuta labagcotjiwe kutsi kufanele bahlale batsembekile nabafuna kutfola “umvuzo welubito lwasezulwini loluvela kuNkulunkulu ngaKhristu Jesu.”​—Filiphi 3:13-16.

6. Nguyiphi indlela yekucabanga emaKhristu lagcotjiwe lokufanele abe nayo?

⁶ Pawula watjela emaKhristu lagcotjiwe watsi: “Mine siboshwa eNkhosini, ngiyanincenga kutsi nihambe ngendlela lefanele lubito lenabitwa ngalo.” Kufanele bakwente njani loko? Pawula wachaza: “Ngekutfobeka lokuphelele nangemoya lomuhle, ngekucinisela, ngekubeketelelana ngelutsandvo, futsi nikhutsalele kugcina bunye bemoya ngesibopho sekuthula.” (Efesu 4:1-3) Umoya longcwele waJehova usita tinceku takhe kutsi tingatigcabhi kodvwa titfobeke. (Kholose 3:12) Ngako labagcotjiwe abatitjeli kutsi bancono kunalabanye. Bayati kutsi Jehova akabaniketi umoya longcwele kwendlula indlela laniketa ngayo letinye tinceku takhe. Abacabangi nekutsi bangalicondza kahle liciniso leliseBhayibhelini kwendlula labanye. Akukafaneli batjele lomunye kutsi naye sewugcotjiwe futsi sekangacala kudla sinkhwa futsi anatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto. Esikhundleni saloko, batfobekile futsi bayati kutsi nguJehova kuphela longabita bantfu kutsi bayophila ezulwini.

7, 8. Yini emaKhristu lagcotjiwe langakayilindzeli, futsi ngani?

⁷ Ngisho nobe labagcotjiwe bakutsatsa njengelilungelo kubitelwa kwabo ezulwini, abakalindzeli kutsi labanye babaphatse ngendlela lekhetsekile. (Efesu 1:18, 19; fundza Filiphi 2:2, 3.) Bayati nekutsi ngesikhatsi Jehova abagcoba, akazange atjele labanye bantfu. Ngako umuntfu logcotjiwe akamangali nangabe labanye bangametsembi ngaleso sikhatsi kutsi ugcotjiwe. Uyati kutsi liBhayibheli lisikhutsata kutsi singasheshi sikholwe nangabe lotsite asitjela kutsi Nkulunkulu umnikete umsebenti lokhetsekile. (Sembulo 2:2) Ngesizatfu sekutsi umuntfu logcotjiwe akafuni kunakwa kakhulu, angeke atjele nobe ngubani kutsi ugcotjiwe. Ecinisweni, angase angakusho nekukusho loko. Ngeke futsi atigabatise ngisho nangetintfo letinhle latatenta ezulwini.​—1 Khorinte 1:28, 29; fundza 1 Khorinte 4:6-8.

⁸ EmaKhristu lagcotjiwe awacabangi kutsi kufanele acitse sikhatsi kuphela nalamanye emaKhristu lagcotjiwe, kube shengatsi angemalunga elicembu lelitsite. Awetami nekufuna lomunye logcotjiwe kute acoce ngekugcotjwa kwawo nobe ahlangane ngemacembu kute adadishe liBhayibheli. (Galathiya 1:15-17) Libandla ngeke libe nebunye nangabe labagcotjiwe benta loko. Batawube benta ngalokungavumelani nemoya longcwele lowenta bantfu baNkulunkulu kutsi babe nekuthula kanye nebunye.​—Fundza Roma 16:17, 18.

9. Kungani kufanele siyinakisise indlela lesiphatsa ngayo labo labadla sinkhwa futsi banatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto? (Hlola libhokisi lelitsi “ Lutsandvo ‘Alutiphatsi Ngendlela Lehlazisako.’”)

⁹ Kufanele ubaphatse njani bazalwane nabodzadze labagcotjiwe? Jesu watjela bafundzi bakhe watsi: “Kepha nine nibazalwane.”  Wachubeka watsi: “Nobe ngubani lotiphakamisako, utawutfotjiswa, futsi nobe ngubani lotitfobako, utawuphakanyiswa.” (Matewu 23:8-12) Ngako akukalungi kutsi sitsandze umuntfu kakhulu ngisho nobe angumnakabo Khristu logcotjiwe. Nalikhuluma ngalabadzala belibandla, liBhayibheli lisikhutsata kutsi silingise kukholwa kwabo, kodvwa alisitjeli kutsi sente umuntfu abe ngumholi wetfu. (Hebheru 13:7) Kuliciniso kutsi liBhayibheli litsi labanye ‘kufanele batsatfwe njengalabafanelwe ludvumo.’ Loku kungenca yekutsi ‘bengamela ngendlela lekahle’ futsi ‘basebenta kamatima ekukhulumeni nasekufundziseni,’ hhayi ngobe bagcotjiwe. (1 Thimothi 5:17) Batawuba nemahloni labagcotjiwe nangabe sesibanika ludvumo futsi sibanaka kakhulu. Lokubuhlungu kakhulu kutsi singabenta batigcabhe. (Roma 12:3) Sonkhe asifuni kwenta nobe yini lengenta logcotjiwe kutsi ente sono!​—Lukha 17:2.

10. Ungakhombisa njani kutsi uyawahlonipha emaKhristu lagcotjiwe?

¹⁰ Singakhombisa njani kutsi siyabahlonipha labo labagcotjwe nguJehova? Ngekutsi singababuti kutsi bagcotjwa njani. Loko kuyimfihlo yabo futsi asikho sidzingo sekutsi sikwati. (1 Thesalonika 4:11; 2 Thesalonika 3:11) Akukafaneli sicabange nekutsi emadvodza abo, bafati babo, batali babo nome lamanye emalunga emindeni yabo nawo agcotjiwe. Umuntfu akalitfoli emndenini wakubo litsemba lekuyophila ezulwini. (1 Thesalonika 2:12) Kufanele futsi singayibuti imibuto letawuvisa labanye buhlungu. Nasi sibonelo, ngeke sibute umfati wemzalwane logcotjiwe kutsi utiva njani ngekutsi utawuphila lamhlabeni phakadze ngaphandle kwendvodza yakhe. Siyaciniseka kutsi eveni lelisha Jehova utawenetisa “tonkhe tifiso talokuphilako.”​—Tihlabelelo 145:16.

11. Sisuke sitivikela njani nangabe sikugwema kutsenga emehlo alabanye?

¹¹ Sitawube siyativikela nangabe singatsatsi bazalwane labagcotjiwe njengalabancono kunalabanye. Ngayiphi indlela? LiBhayibheli litsi kungenteka ‘kunebazalwane mbumbulu’ ebandleni labangatsi bagcotjiwe. (Galathiya 2:4, 5; 1 Johane 2:19) Labanye labagcotjiwe bangase bangahlali betsembekile. (Matewu 25:10-12; 2 Phetro 2:20, 21) Kodvwa nangabe sikugwema kutsenga emehlo alabanye, ngeke sibente babe baholi betfu ngisho nalabo labagcotjiwe, nalabatiwako nobe lasebakhonte Jehova sikhatsi lesidze. Nakwenteka bangasetsembeki nobe bashiye libandla lebuKhristu, ngeke silahlekelwe kukholwa kwetfu kuJehova nobe siyekele kumkhonta.​—Juda 16.

12, 13. Kungani kungakafaneli sikhatsateke ngelinani lalabo labadla sinkhwa futsi banatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto?

¹² Eminyakeni leminyenti leyendlulile, linani lalabo bebadla sinkhwa futsi banatse liwayini ngeSikhumbuto beliloku lehla. Kodvwa muva nje lelinani liyakhula umnyaka nemnyaka. Kufanele kusikhatsate yini loko? Cha. Ase sibone kutsi kungani.

¹³ “Jehova uyabati labo lababakhe.” (2 Thimothi 2:19) Ngalokungafani naJehova, labazalwane lababala linani  lebantfu labadle sinkhwa futsi banatsa liwayini ngeSikhumbuto, abati kutsi ngubani mbambambamba logcotjiwe. Ngako lelinani lihlanganisa labo labacabanga kutsi bagcotjiwe kantsi abakagcotjwa. Sibonelo saloko kutsi labanye labebadla sinkhwa futsi banatse liwayini, babese bayayekela. Labanye kungenteka baphatamisekile engcondvweni futsi bakholelwa kutsi batawubusa naKhristu ezulwini. Kuyacaca-ke kutsi asilati ngalokucondzile linani lalabo labagcotjiwe labasele emhlabeni.

14. Litsini liBhayibheli mayelana nelinani lalabagcotjiwe labatawube basemhlabeni nakucala kuhlupheka lokukhulu?

¹⁴ Kutawuba nalabagcotjiwe etindzaweni letinyenti emhlabeni ngesikhatsi Jesu efika atobatsatsa baye ezulwini. LiBhayibheli litsi Jesu ‘utawutfumela tingilosi takhe, tiphume nakushaywa emacilongo tiye emagumbini omane emhlaba, futsi tigcogcele ndzawonye labakhetsiwe labakuwo wonkhe umhlaba.’ (Matewu 24:31) LiBhayibheli liphindze litsi emalangeni ekugcina kutawuba nelinani lelincane lalabagcotjiwe labasele emhlabeni. (Sembulo 12:17) Kodvwa alisho kutsi bangakhi labatawube basele nakucala kuhlupheka lokukhulu.

15, 16. Yini lokufanele siyati mayelana nalabo labangu-144 000 labakhetfwe nguJehova?

¹⁵ NguJehova loncumako kutsi ubakhetsa nini labagcotjiwe. (Roma 8:28-30) Jehova wacala kukhetsa labagcotjiwe ngemuva kwekuvuswa kwaJesu. Kubonakala shengatsi ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka, onkhe emaKhristu eliciniso  bekagcotjiwe. Ngemuva kwemakhulu eminyaka, labanyenti balabo labebatsi bangemaKhristu bebangasibo balandzeli baKhristu mbamba. Nobe kunjalo, kuleyo minyaka, Jehova wagcoba labo labambalwa lebebangemaKhristu eliciniso. Bebafana nakolo latsi Jesu utawukhula emkhatsini welukhula. (Matewu 13:24-30) Kulamalanga ekugcina, Jehova abesolo achubeka nekukhetsa bantfu kutsi babe yincenye yalabangu-144-000. ^[2] (Fundza kwatiswa lokusekugcineni.) Ngako nangabe Nkulunkulu ancuma kukhetsa labanye balaba ngaphambi nje kwekuphela, akukafaneli singabate kutsi wenta intfo lekahle. (Isaya 45:9; Danyela 4:35; fundza Roma 9:11, 16.) ^[3] (Fundza kwatiswa lokusekugcineni.) Kufanele sicaphele singenti njengaletisebenti letakhonona ngendlela inkhosi yato leyasebentelana ngayo netisebenti letacala kusebenta ngeli-awa lekugcina.​—Fundza Matewu 20:8-15.

¹⁶ Akusibo bonkhe labanelitsemba lekuphila ezulwini labayincenye ‘yesisebenti lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile.’ (Matewu 24:45-47) Njengasekhulwini lekucala leminyaka, lamuhla Jehova naJesu basebentisa bantfu labambalwa kute bondle nobe bafundzise bantfu labanyenti. Ngelikhulu lekucala, ambalwa emaKhristu lagcotjiwe lasetjentiswa kute abhale ImiBhalo YemaKhristu YesiGriki. Nalamuhla, emaKhristu lagcotjiwe lambalwa anemsebenti wekuniketa bantfu baNkulunkulu “kudla ngesikhatsi lesifanele.”

17. Ufundzeni kulesihloko?

¹⁷ Yini lesiyifundzile kulesihloko? Jehova ukhetse kuniketa linyenti lebantfu bakhe kuphila lokuphakadze emhlabeni, nekuphila ezulwini kulabo labatawubusa naJesu. Jehova utinika umvuzo tonkhe tinceku takhe, “umJuda” ‘nemadvodza lalishumi,’ ufuna tilalele imitsetfo lefanako futsi tihlale tetsembekile. Tonkhe kufanele tihlale titfobekile, futsi timkhonte ndzawonye ngebunye. Kufanele tilwele kugcina kuthula ebandleni. Njengobe sisondzela ekupheleni, shengatsi sonkhe singachubeka sikhonta Jehova futsi silandzela Khristu singumhlambi munye.